Some career advice from other IT professionals.... PLS

[LuckiGraffix]

Hey everyone, My name is Frank I'm 33yr and starting over so to say career wise anyway... had a great job I was hired years ago to setup a help desk for a union based company that provided health ins. to a government based union (sry just not sure how to say that without saying it ;> then i was promoted to IT support specialist so I pretty much ran the help desk software and did anything our senior engineer didn't want/have time to do with other applications co. wide while assisting the 2 help desk guys with all the grunt stuff.... so lost my job bout a year ago and with the way Jobs are now I should of got certs along the way but didn't just did some light Cisco, Vmware, and Microsoft training and light self studies but that has hurt me now at continuing my IT career...

I tried to study and take the CCNA twice and failed both badly... So I'm trying to step back a few and create a new path for myself so I can pick myself up and get my life back, I've thought just focus VMware or Security (security+ then head toward CISSP) or start with something Microsoft beginner then move toward MCSE or higher or something specific like SharePoint or something...

I'm moving very close to Baltimore MD in three months so I need to jump start something, self study\train myself and get Certs to help me with a new career in IT at some type of intermediate level (just not entry level I've got 10+ years experience just never made it up the ladder) I always tried to get in to help anyone higher then me just to pick up what I could when I could and I'm kinda like the guy in the group that can figure anything out with enough time to figure it out. I got family to take care of and I need to move forward again to take care of them. any opinions or advise is greatly appreciated. with the market today i just feel lost what direction to go

Thanks,
Frank

 

[Lexluethar]

I think the path depends on what you want to do. If networking interests you then CCNA is the way to go - i just think you jumped in the deep end before you knew how to swim. CCNA is a very difficult exam for even skilled engineers. If you want to go the CCNA route i would suggest doing baby steps and getting your Net+ first. I know it's simple stuff but it will get you on the right path.

I would also suggest looking into the new MCSE or MCSA in server 2008 or server 2012: MCSA: The foundation for your career in IT
MCSE Certification | MCSE Training | Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert

Those are also pretty difficult and i would suggest getting your feet wet with MS certifications first and get a Windows 7 configuration certification first.

As for study materials again, up to you and how you learn. I personally purchase MS Publishing books, get my hands on an evaluation copy of the OS (server 2008) and go at it. After reading, doing the exercises and practice tests if you understand the material you will pass (I emphasize understand, MS expects you to understand how technology works, not specific numbers or terms, they want to know if you know how to implement group policy properly, how and when to implement a DNS stub zone vs secondary zone, ect).